The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used
by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second
World War. The Spitfire continued to be used into the 1950s both as a front line
fighter and in secondary roles. It was produced in greater numbers than any
other British aircraft and was the only Allied fighter in production throughout
the war.
After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire became the backbone of RAF
Fighter Command and saw action in the European Theatre, Pacific Theatre and the
South-east Asian theatre. Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire saw service in
several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber,
carrier-based fighter, and trainer; it was built in many different variants,
with two different types of engine and several wing
configurations.